Price your entry fee too high and teams don't sign up. Too low, and you're paying for the refs out of your own pocket. The good news: there's a simple way to land on the right number.
Step 1: Add up your real costs
List everything the event costs you, even the small stuff:
- Gym or court rental — often the biggest line. Ask for an hourly rate and a per-day rate.
- Officials — per game, per ref. Multiply by your game count (see the format guide for how many games each format needs).
- Awards — trophies, medals, championship shirts.
- Supplies — game balls, scorebooks, first-aid kit, printed schedules.
- Insurance — if your venue requires event coverage.
Step 2: Find your break-even per team
Plan on a field a little smaller than your cap — if you're hoping for 16 teams, price for 12 so a few no-shows don't sink you.
Example: a 12-team, one-day event with $900 of gym time, $720 in officials (24 games × 2 refs × $15), and $280 in trophies costs $1,900. Divided by 12 teams, break-even is about $158 per team.
Step 3: Check the local market
Look at what similar events near you charge. As a rough guide in the U.S.:
- 3v3 and street-ball events: often $40–$150 per team.
- Adult 5v5 weekend tournaments: often $150–$400 per team.
- Youth / AAU tournaments: commonly $250–$600 per team, higher for multi-day events with guaranteed games.
If your break-even lands above the local range, the fix is usually more teams per court hour (shorter games or more pool play), not a higher fee.
Step 4: Price for guaranteed games
Teams judge value per game, not per event. A $300 entry that guarantees three games feels better than a $200 entry in a single-elimination bracket where half the field plays once. If you raise the price, say exactly how many games every team gets.
Step 5: Decide who pays processing fees
Card processing typically costs around 3% plus 30¢ per payment. You can absorb it, or pass it to the registrant at checkout so the full entry fee reaches you. Most organizers pass it on — it's standard practice, and teams expect it as long as the total is shown before they pay.
On Tipoff, you set the entry fee and keep 100% of it. A platform fee and card processing are added at the team's checkout. Here's exactly what that looks like:
| Entry fee you set | Team pays at checkout | You receive |
|---|---|---|
| $50.00 | $53.40 | $50.00 |
| $100.00 | $106.48 | $100.00 |
| $150.00 | $159.57 | $150.00 |
| $200.00 | $212.65 | $200.00 |
Free events stay free — no card, no fees. Creating the tournament costs nothing either way.
Step 6: Collect up front
Whatever you charge, collect it at registration. Pay-at-the-door means no-shows, IOUs, and a cash box to watch on game day. When teams pay to claim their spot, they show up. If someone has to drop out early, refund them and promote the next team from your waitlist.
Ready to set a price and open registration? Our getting-started guide walks through it step by step.